Smoke-consumer for locomotives



J. MQMURTRYQ SMOKE CONSUMER FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 16, I881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MGM'URTRY, or LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

SMOKE-CONSUMER FOR LOCOMOTIVES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,738, dated August16, 1881.

Application filed June 22, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown thatLJoHNMcMURrRY,ot'Lexington, in the county of Fayette andState of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSmoke-Consumers for L0- comotives and Fire and Portable Engines; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it, reference beinghad to theaccompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in smoke-consumers forlocomotives and fire'and portable steam-engines; and itconsists inplacing upon the top of the stack or chimney avalve which can beshiltedso as to open or close the entrance to the pipe which connects with theashpit, whereby the products of combustion can be turned directly intothe pipeand be conveyed backinto the furnace, or can be turned into theopen air.

It further consists in making an extended ash-pit in a locomotive, andproviding this ashpit with an adjustable valve, whereby as the productsof combustion are being carried back to the furnace a suitable amount ofatmospheric air canbe mixed with the products of combustion so as tosupply them with the necessary oxygen to keep up a perfect combustion,as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide 10- comotives and steam-enginesof all kinds with an attachment whereby all of the products ofcombustionlnaybecarriedbackdirectlyinto the furnace, and thus not onlygreatly economize the consumption of fuel, butprevent the cinders, dust,and dirt from escaping from the top of the stack, to the great annoyanceand inconvenience of passengers on the railroad, or those living in theimmediate neighborhood.

The figure is a side elevation ofa locomotive,

partly in section.

A represents a locomotive of any suitable construction, and B the stack.Upon the top of this stack is placed a suitable cylinder or chamber, X,'of any desired shape, size, or construction, and which has an opening,P, through its top, leading into the air, and a second opening, D,through one of its sides. Pivoted or otherwise arranged inside of thiscylinder or (No model.)

chamber is the valve E, either of a circular or other suitable-shape,and which will sweep through an arc of a circle suffieiently great toallow it to cover either the opening into the air or the opening D. Thisvalve is intended to be operated by the engineer, and may either have acrank upon one end and a rod extendin g back from the crank into thecab, or there may be a pulley placed upon one end of the shaft of thevalve and a cord passed around a pulley and then back into the cab.\Vhere the engine is standing still and there is no exhaust this valvewill be turned so that all of the products of combustion will pass intothe open air; but where the engine is in motion and the exhaust-steam isturned into the stack B the valve will be made to close the openinginthe top of the cylinder or chamber, and the opening D will be left open,so that the products of combustion can pass directly through it.Connected with this opening D is the pipe or flue F, which passes downin front of the locomotive, as shown, and has its lower end connectedwith the extended ash-pit G, which is made under the boiler. For thepurpose of enabling this flue to be passed down, as shown, thehead-light will be moved forward upon the locomotive, and may be secureddirectly upon this flue, or in front of it, as may be preferred.

The extended ash-pit runs the whole length of the boiler, as shown, andis placed below the axles of the driving wheels. Through the front endof this pit is made a suitable opening, which is controlled by anadjustable valve, 1, so as to regulate the amount of air which shall beadmitted while the engine is in motion for the purpose of forcing theproducts of combustion back along the ashpit line and supplying oxygento the tire. This oxygen,entering the flue, which is filled with theproducts of combustion and the exliaust steam, mingles with them and isswept back into the ashpit by the blast of air consequent on theadvancing train, and thence into the furnace, where they are consumed.

Should it be desired to increase the amount ofcombustible matter theremay be introduced into either the extended ash-pit directly under orinto the furnace, so as to mingle with the products of combustion, thevapors from bydrocarbon oils or any similar substance. This vapor willbe generated by passing either live or exhaust steam through a body ofoil, gasoline, or other similar substance, which will be converted intovapor by the heat of the steam, and this vapor may be mingled with theproducts of combustion, as described, or fed to the furnacein any othersuitable manner. The exhaustion of the steam into the stack causes adraft which sweeps everything before it directly back into the furnace,so that no sooner is the engine started and the exhaust turned into thestack than the necessary draft is furnished at once. In thus consumingthe products of combustion not only is there great eoonomyin theconsumption of fuel, but the cinders and soot which escape from thestack, and which are so annoying and troublesome to passengers, arecaught, and thus prevented from passout into the air, as is generallythe case.

In stationary engines,where the chimney is at the same end of the boileras thefurnace, it will be found that the usual exhaust in the base ofthe chimney will be sufficient to force the products of combustion downinto the ash-pit of the furnace, where it will not only be consumed, butgreatly aid toward securing perfect combustion of the fuel in thefurnace, in the same manner and with the same economic results asdescribed in the locomotive-engine. The vaporized fuel may be used inconnection with stationary as Well as locomotive engines.

Having thus described my invention, I claim The combination of a stackor chimney having a chamber, X, secured to its top, that is providedwith the opening through its top and asecond one, D, through its side,with the flue F, the extended ash-pit G, having the valve I at its frontend, and a valve, P, whereby the forward motion of the engine causes ablast of air to enter the ash-pit and sweep the products of combustionback into the furnace, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I at'tix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MGMURTRY.

Witnesses:

GEORGE SroLL, (J. H. S'roLL.

